Telecommunications system

Abstract

In a telecommunications system such as a global mobile telephone network in which each subscriber unit includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card), each SIM card has fixed memory locations, to which data can be addressed over the air. Some of the locations can not be overwritten from the subscriber unit but can be accessed therefrom on the entry of short simple codes, each associated with one of the locations. Further fixed memory locations can be read over the air only when the subscriber enters a personal identification number. Locking control files are used to control read/write access to the locations respectively.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A wireless telecommunications system, comprising:
 a mobile telephone wirelessly linked to a host station and able to receive a SMS test message and an embedded SMS command message transmitted by the host station;   a removable module coupled to the mobile telephone that receives the SMS text message and the embedded SMS command message, said module comprising:
 a plurality of identifiable memory locations; 
 a filter configured to distinguish the SMS test message from the embedded SMS command message; 
 a decoder coupled to the filter decoding the embedded SMS command message and further configured to respond to the command to undertake appropriate processing of data contained in the SMS command message; and 
   a display disposed within the mobile telephone in electrical communication with the module adapted to display SMS text data.   
     
     
         31 . The telecommunications system of  claim 30 , wherein the command is selected from the group comprising a write command, a read command, an attribute command, and a run command. 
     
     
         32 . The telecommunications system of  claim 31 , wherein the command is the write command and associated data, said write command specifying a selected memory location from the plurality of memory locations for storing the data in the SMS command message. 
     
     
         33 . The telecommunications system of  claim 30 , wherein the filter is further configured to write the SMS command message to one of the plurality of memory locations prior to decoding. 
     
     
         34 . The telecommunications system of  claim 30 , wherein the SMS command message comprises an embedded command stream. 
     
     
         35 . The telecommunications system of  claim 30 , wherein the module comprises a removable SIM card. 
     
     
         36 . A removable module connectable to a mobile telephone, said module comprising:
 a multiplicity of fixed memory locations;   a filter coupled to the multiplicity of fixed memory locations that distinguishes a first message coded in a first format and a second message coded in a second format; and   a decoder coupled to the filter that decodes the second message and executes an action based on the decoded data contents.   
     
     
         37 . The module of  claim 36 , wherein the second message comprises a SMS command message. 
     
     
         38 . The module of  claim 36 , wherein the second message comprises an embedded command, said command selected from the group of commands comprised of a read command, a write command, a run command and an attribute command. 
     
     
         39 . The module of  claim 36 , wherein the second message comprises the write command and data, said write command specifying a selected memory location for storing data in the second message. 
     
     
         40 . The module of  claim 39 , wherein the selected memory is one of the multiplicity of fixed memory locations. 
     
     
         41 . The module of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 an application data file received by the module modifying at least one memory location.   
     
     
         42 . A method of commanding a mobile telephone in a telecommunications system, comprising the steps of:
 receiving at a mobile telephone a message coded in a specific format, distinguishable from other message formats used in the telecommunications system, transmitted from a host station, and said message comprising a command for data handling and associated data for the command;   distinguishing the message coded in the specific format from the other message formats using a removable self-contained microprocessor; and   responding to the command data according to the decoded command.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of encoding the command message as an embedded command stream message to secure the message against interception. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the other message formats comprise a SMS text message. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising providing a multiplicity of addressable memory locations disposed within the microprocessor. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the message modifies an application data file program. 
     
     
         47 .- 50 . (canceled)